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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
May 18, 2006 * Issue 6.18
PassPorter.com - http://www.passporter.com
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Welcome to PassPorter News, an online newsletter
about PassPorter travel guidebooks, the
Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney Cruise Line.
PassPorter News is available by free subscription
to all readers and friends of our labor of love --
PassPorter Travel Guidebooks.
Learn all about them:
http://www.passporter.com/aboutpassporter.htm
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In This Newsletter:
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From the Authors: Greetings From
Washington, D.C.!
Travel Feature: Renting A Vacation Home
Disney Feature: Fort Wilderness
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Snack Pack, Puddle Play,
Time-share Share
Captain's Corner: Kali's Buddhas
Q&A: Is there a "real"
barbershop at the Magic Kingdom?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Greetings
From Washington, D.C.
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We're here in Washington, D.C. for the
big Book Expo America annual convention. We're networking, schmoozing, and
meeting new and old friends. Tomorrow is the start of the convention itself and
we've got a full schedule of book signings (four this year!) and meetings. Deb
Wills and Debra Martin Koma of AllEarsNet.com fame and co-authors of
"PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs" are joining
us to do some autographing and networking of their own. It's shaping up to be a
great event!
The poll is still open to vote on
whether you'd like to see us publish a PassPorter for New York City or Hawaii
in 2008. Please vote at our NYC or Hawaii Poll page.
In this edition of the newsletter,
PassPorter Message Board Guide Christina Radvon offers helpful tips and
information on renting a vacation home. Rob Seilert gives us a wonderful review
of Fort Wilderness Resort at Walt Disney World. Finally, Captain Jack Skatt
returns with a new treasure hunting game. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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DID YOU KNOW?
PassPorter Land/Sea Combo Deal
You asked for it, you got it! Here's a combo deal for
those of you lucky enough to be doing both Walt Disney World and the Disney
Cruise Line (or just dreaming of it). Getting the deal is simple -- just add
both a cruise guide (paperback, refill kit, or deluxe kit) AND a Walt Disney
World guide (spiral, refill kit, or deluxe kit) to your shopping cart in our
online store. At checkout, enter this code: DCLWDW, and you'll get 25% off the
list price of BOTH books.
Please note that this offer cannot be combined with
other coupons, discounts, or offers. Please also note that the discount is not
valid on just the looseleaf text sets of either the cruise guide or the Walt
Disney World guide.
Order today and save at:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/combodeal.aspx
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Renting a
Vacation Home 101
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by Christina Radvon, Guest Contributor
and PassPorter Message Board Guide
Have you ever considered renting a
vacation home, but thought it was only something for those people who qualify
as rich and famous? Reconsider! Renting a vacation home is one of the most
relaxing options for an overnight or week-long stay, especially for larger
families. Families of five get the fuzzy end of the lollipop at many hotel
chains. They either have to book two rooms, or get a cot and spend a week
tripping over one another and sharing one tiny bathroom. Not to mention all the
big bucks spent on meals for five or more!
Vacation homes provide room to spread
out, a kitchen to prepare less expensive meals (including a fridge so you can
actually buy groceries to SAVE money!), plenty of rooms and beds for everyone,
a yard to let the kids run wild and free, and -- best of all -- the price is
comparable (often less!) per night to a hotel room(s) for the same number of
people.
Renting a vacation home is simple.
Vacation home listings can be found online, in phone books, even through
Realtor's offices. One of the best ways to find a vacation home is by word of
mouth. If an acquaintance mentions a great vacation home stay, ask questions
about the area, the sights, the home itself. Get the number and call to find
out more. Another great way to find a vacation home is through professional
references. Many points of interest like national parks and amusement parks
have local lodgings pages on their web sites. Search the lodgings listings to
find more information about rental agencies and private home owners.
There are lots of questions you'll want
to ask such as:
-When/what day is check-in/check-out?
-Do I need to provide
bedding/pillows/towels?
-Is housekeeping between renters
provided or will I be responsible for cleaning and leaving the house as I found
it?
-Are cleaning supplies available for
quick clean-ups in case of spills or messes as well as for a bigger cleaning on
check-out day?
-Is off-street parking available?
-How many parking spaces are available
per rental unit?
-How many guests can the rental unit
accommodate?
-Do you provide a short-term lease or
is the arrangement less formal?
-Do you take credit/cash/local
checks/out-of-state checks/cash-only?
-Can you provide me with directions to
the rental unit as well as to nearby points of interest and basic necessities
like the gas station, emergency services, and the grocery store?
-Are all the comforts of home provided
(washer/dryer, dishwasher, full-size fridge, microwave, range, outdoor grill)?
If a renter canÕt or wonÕt answer any
of your questions, simply move on to the next listing. If you get a good
feeling and your questions are quickly answered, proceed with your booking!
The next task for many renters is
figuring out how to cram everything youÕll need into one vehicle! Renting a
home and road tripping seem to go hand-in-hand. Many rental homes do require
you to provide all your own bedding and towels which can take up a monstrous
amount of space in your luggage! YouÕll need to get creative with your packing
(pack half as much if there are a washer and dryer available) and, possibly,
rent or purchase a rooftop cargo carrier to hold all the extras. The new
space-saving bags that roll out the excess air without a vacuum are great for
saving space when packing blankets and pillows. Be sure to buy the extra-large
bags. YouÕll need some elbow grease to get the pillows in and roll out the air,
but they fluff up like new when you arrive and unpack! The rooftop cargo
carrier also gives you the opportunity to take along a larger, more comfortable
stroller or wagon for younger kids or sporting gear/toys for older kids. And a
rental home has plenty of space to roll that stroller right inside at the end
of a long day. No tripping or middle-of-the-night toe-stubbing and muttering
either!
Some vacation homes offer that extra
level of service: real housekeeping between renters. If you can find a rental
with that option available, youÕll probably spend a bit more, but driving and
hauling all the extra stuff wonÕt be necessary.
Whatever options are available to you,
make the most of a relaxing stay by treating yourselves to a few meals out and
enjoy some down time at the end of each day talking about all your activities
and fun times. As you and your family of sit around the living room, talking
about your exciting adventures, youÕll wonder how (and why!) you ever managed
the expense of two hotels rooms or crammed yourselves into one tiny room.
About the Author: Chrissi is a
PassPorter Message Board Guide and lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and
4-year-old son.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail
us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss
your Disney travel plans.
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DISNEY FEATURE: Fort
Wilderness: A Resort Full of Adventure
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by Rob Sielert, Guest Contributor
When you pull into DisneyÕs Fort
Wilderness, itÕs like being transported back to the pioneer days. Well, without
all the danger and with a lot of modern conveniences! This Walt Disney World
resort has so many things to see and do; itÕs almost like a theme park itself.
For the family that enjoys the great outdoors, thereÕs no better place to stay
on Disney property.
LetÕs start with the options for
lodging. This is the only Disney resort where you can actually bring your own!
Fort Wilderness is broken into several camping loops. Most are for people with
tents or Recreational Vehicles (RVÕs), while others have cabins available for
rental. The first time my family and I vacationed at Fort Wilderness, we rented
an RV. We had never stayed in an RV before, let alone renting and driving one,
but we were up for the adventure. Luckily, we received thorough training from
the rental place before we were sent off to fend for ourselves. Everything
worked out great, and it was definitely a unique and fun way to spend our week.
The next time we stayed at Fort
Wilderness, we were feeling even more adventurous -- we brought our tent with
us on the plane. We were very glad that our baggage arrived on schedule! The
highlight for our son was the toad we discovered under our tent while breaking
down camp on the inevitable sad last day of our Disney vacation. The toad kept
him entertained while Mom and Dad were busy packing up.
Another option for lodging is to
reserve one of the cabins, which sleep up to six people.
Fort Wilderness is one of the nicest
campgrounds you will ever find. The sites are kept very clean, and the staff is
always friendly and helpful. One of the biggest differences between this and
other campgrounds are the comfort stations. ThatÕs Disney-speak for rest rooms
and showers. They are all roomy, air-conditioned, and from my experience,
clean. There are also ice machines, so itÕs easy to keep your cooler stocked.
One of the great things about Fort
Wilderness is the amount of activities available. ThereÕs truly something for
everyone here. How about fishing, boating, canoeing, and horseback riding? Not
enough for you? Okay, how about swimming, tennis, basketball, horseshoes, and
bike riding. Still not enough? How about a visit to the Tri-Circle D Ranch,
where you can visit the horse barn (be sure to look out for some neat old
photos of Walt himself) or visit the petting farm. There are even pony rides
for the kids. How about a leisurely nature walk? YouÕre sure to see peacocks,
squirrels, and lizards. If youÕre lucky, you might even spot a deer or two. And
I saved the best for last. How about a campfire sing-a-long with Chip and Dale,
followed by a Disney movie in the woods, all for free. Yes, itÕs true - a fun
event for the whole family at Walt Disney World thatÕs absolutely free. Be sure
to get there early, as seating is limited. You can even bring your own
marshmallows to roast on the campfire or buy some and a roasting stick while
youÕre there. You can also catch the Electrical Water Pageant every night, weather
permitting, from the dock at the marina. This is a light and music show
presented from floating barges right on Bay Lake.
Fort Wilderness is a big place. Luckily
it has its own internal bus system. There are three main bus routes that run
from one end of the resort to the other. All three make a stop at the Outpost
Depot and Settlement Depot, where you can catch a bus to the parks or Downtown
Disney. You can also catch a ferry at the marina for a fun ride to the Magic
Kingdom. While itÕs possible to walk or ride a bus to any destination within
the Fort Wilderness resort, you may also choose to rent or bring your own golf
cart.
One of the most popular dinner shows at
Walt Disney World is located at Fort Wilderness. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
is an old west stage show with a cast of lovable characters. This is an annual
event for my family and is always the first Disney-related thing we do when we
arrive. Here youÕll be fed with all-you-can-eat portions of salad, fried
chicken, ribs, bread, corn, baked beans, and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Soft drinks are included with the meal. The show starts with a few song and
dance numbers, including old west classics like ŌDarlinÕ Clementine.Ķ The cast
interacts with the crowd, asking for people celebrating anniversaries or
birthdays, and then they make up clever rhymes about where the people are from.
The show is a little corny at times but very fun and enjoyable. My 8 year old
son has seen it several times and always has a great time. ItÕs nearly
impossible not to have a good time here, and youÕll probably find yourself
humming the ŌHoop-Dee-DooĶ theme song on your way out. ThereÕs also MickeyÕs
Backyard BBQ, where you will enjoy the same basic food served buffet style. The
big difference here is that Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale work their way from
table to table for hugs and photos. A band plays country favorites as well.
After dessert, join Mickey and friends in front of the stage for some dancing
lessons. Other dining options include the Trails End Restaurant, which has a
delicious buffet, or CrockettÕs Tavern, which has good food as well but a more
limited selection.
While youÕre in Fort Wilderness, be
sure to check out one of the two trading posts. They both feature t-shirts,
hats, mugs and other items with the Fort Wilderness logo on them. They also
have a limited selection of other Disney souvenirs, as well as a small amount
of groceries, etc. You can even enjoy a friendly game of checkers by the
fireplace in the Meadow Trading Post.
If you happen to be lucky enough to
visit during the month of October, be sure to ask about the Haunted Hayrides.
They usually start around mid-October and run through the end of the month.
YouÕll board a wagon that can seat around thirty people and is pulled by two
very large and intimidating black horses. Along the way you pick up a
storyteller who entertains you with the legend of Sleepy Hollow. You pull up
alongside Ichabod Crane, before he mysteriously disappears. As you continue
along the path and round a corner, whoÕs that across the bridge? ItÕs the
Headless Horseman himself! The wagon picks up speed to try and outrun him, but
he keeps getting closer and closer, all the while swinging his sword trying to
get your head. You escape at last, and everyone has their heads intact. For a
more intense ride, sit in the back where youÕll be even closer to the Headless
Horseman. My son rode this when he was 5 and absolutely loved it. He talked
about the ŌHeadless HeadlerĶ for weeks. Be sure to consider how your child
handles scary rides before signing up for this. In my opinion, itÕs well worth
it and is definitely one of our favorite Walt Disney World memories.
I hope IÕve given you at least a few
reasons to visit DisneyÕs Fort Wilderness resort, or perhaps even stay there.
There are plenty of activities for everyoneÕs tastes. I hope you have as much
fun as my family and I do.
About the Author: Rob Sielert is a
certified Disney nut, known to family and friends as ŌMr. Mouse.Ķ He often
daydreams about how cool it would be to live on Disney property. Fort
Wilderness is his favorite resort, and he and his family canÕt wait for their
upcoming trip to Walt Disney World in December.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail us
at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your
holiday plans.
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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Here's a few of the new developments at Disney:
The Magic Your Way Dining Plan Snack
Credit has been expanded to include most individual, non-alcoholic food items
available in the theme parks for $4 and under (pre-tax). Look for the Dining
Plan logo in the menu of counter service restaurants and snack cart locations
to help you identify which items may be purchased using your snack credit. Word
of "Mouse" is that Disney is still getting the signs up on all the
food carts so ask a Cast Member if you have any questions.
Beginning July 1, 2006, Disneyland
visitors will have a new way to travel between Disneyland and Universal Studios
Hollywood. Universal Studios has contracted with Gray Line, a passenger bus
company, to provide twice daily shuttles from Anaheim-area hotels to Universal
Studios Hollywood. This service will be free to Guests who have purchased a
full-price admission ticket to Universal Studios either through Gray Line
directly, a participating hotel concierge or online through http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com
or http://www.coachusa.us
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
will be starting early this year with the first party taking place on September
15. This event which requires separate admission will be held on September 15,
22, 29, October 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31.
Admission purchased in advance for all parties between September 15 and October
26 will be $39.36 for ages 10 and up and $31.90 for ages 3 - 9. Admission for
the October 27, 30 and 31 parties will be $45.75 for ages 10 and up and $35.95
for ages 3 - 9. Children under three are admitted free of charge. Annual
Passholder and DVC member discounts are available for select dates. Call (407)
WDISNEY to purchase tickets.
Our thanks to AllEarsNet.com from which we get some
of our news leads.
>Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
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DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW READERS
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Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are
the winners in this month's tip contest:
SNACK PACK
"With picky eaters in tow, I had
to find a way to transport items which needed to be stay cool. Much to my
delight, I found a smaller version of the soft thermal bags usually found in
grocery stores. I found the smaller version (.59 cents) in the deli section of
our local grocery store. They are kept near the rotisserie chickens, and they
are meant to be a way to keep your hot, cooked chicken warm when transporting
it from the store to your home. I placed my children's favorite hummus, along
with some pita bread and small reusable ice packs, in this small bag -- one for
each child -- and we used them on the flight to Orlando. They were easy to
transport, and the children had their very own 'lunch bags' with other goodies
inside as well. The ice packs came in handy nightly to soothe our swollen feet
(we had a refrigerator in our hotel room)." -- contributed by Maria B.
PUDDLE PLAY
"If it starts to rain, stay in the
parks and play in the puddles! Lots of guests leave any of the Disney parks if
a little rain ruins their day. If you stay, wait lines can be shortened and you
can have a great time getting on all the rides quickly." -- contributed by
Jeanne Semrad (jeanneluvsmusic@...)
TIME-SHARE SHARE
"Don't be afraid to mention your
plans to visit Disney around family or friends. You never know who may have a
Florida timeshare going unused! Turns out my own parents still own the
timeshare they bought in Kissimmee when we were kids in the '80s. They rarely
go anymore; they either bank the week and take it some other time, rent it out
to someone else, or skip it entirely! You might know somebody who would gladly
give/rent to someone they know, rather than have it go empty or be rented to
strangers! All we have to pay is a modest $50 "guest" fee since we're
not the actual owners." -- contributed by Shelley B. (midnightrose227@...)
>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in
this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/contest.htm
>>Want more Disney tips? For Walt
Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers
over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For
details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page at
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp
>>For Disney Cruise Line fans, we
have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line
comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit
the Disney Cruise Clues info page at
http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp
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CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure Hunting Game
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Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game,
hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our new book, "PassPorter's Treasure
Hunts at Walt Disney World."
The Captain makes a study of the delightful details
-- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt
Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals,
he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions,
photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your
memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If
you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the
first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter
enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this week's treasure from Captain Skatt's
Journal:
"After my journey to the rock
dragon in Disney's Animal Kingdom last week, I wandered over to Kali River
Rapids. I recalled several Buddha statues in the grass, visible as you make
your way to the river. I spent some time there, observing these quiet yet
majestic statues and pondering why some of them are missing their heads. Acid
rain? Looting? Statue poachers? Ah, I'd probably lose my head too if I watched
tourists walk past me in a single file line day after day after day. Anyway, I
can no longer recall just how many of Kali River Rapid's Buddha statues are
missing their heads. Ah, well, any excuse to visit again."
How many buddha statues still have
their heads?
Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com
-- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter,
along with the correct answer!
Congratulations to Catmom444 who was
the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Catmom444 correctly identified
the rock dragon as being located in the water near the bridge leading to Camp
Minnie-Mickey. To view the original clues, see the last newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news051006.htm
Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner
will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter, along with the
correct answer!
If you enjoy treasure hunts, we've got an entire
book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts and over 1500 questions, complete
with clues and contributions from Captain Skatt. ŌPassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" is
now available! You can order the new book today at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
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Carrie_10k asks: "We'll be going
to Walt Disney World for my son's eighth birthday. He could really use a
haircut before we leave. However, I heard of people taking their little ones
for their first haircut at a barber shop in Magic Kingdom. What is the name of
this barber shop? Is it a fully operational barber shop, or just for first
haircuts? If it is a "real" barber shop, what is the cost for a
child's cut? Is this barber shop worth it for me to wait to see my child's eyes
again until we are at Magic Kingdom (in other words, do they give good cuts)?
"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "It's
full service for a turn of the 20th century barber shop. You know, the kind of
place ladies weren't seen, back in the day. It would have been cigar smoke, the
daily newspaper, a game of checkers, shelves full of personalized shaving
mugs... Actually, I've never seen a guy get lathered up and shaved with a
straight razor (although they do have them for trimming). There isn't a posted
price for a "shave and a haircut" (and no, Roger Rabbit is not going
to come bursting out of hiding to complete the phrase). But for a basic adult's
or child's haircut (even without colored gel or glitter - this old fogey
doesn't do that kind of thing), it's a fine place to stop. They charge $2 more
than my local "chain" hair cutter, which is pretty darn reasonable in
my book.
If you're looking for salon-style
services there are several salons and spas at the resorts."
Have a question? Post it at
http://www.passporterboards.com --
and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered
the same question that's on your mind!
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